Lingerie-clasp.



A. & c; H. KESTENMAN. LINGERIE CLASP,

APPLICATION FILED APE-26. 19%6.

l,2 52,96u Patented. Jan. 8,1918.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan, 8?, 1918,

Application filed April 28, 1916. SerialNo. 93,628.

vide a device for this purpose which may be opened to the full extent to facilitate its application to the garments, and one which is more convenient to operate and more secure in its fastening of the parts of the garments in place.

The manner and means for carrying out our improvement are fully described in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts. In the drawings 1Figure l is a plan view of our improved c as Fig. 2, a side view of the same showing its parts in closed relation; and

Fig. 3, a similar view showing the clasp partly open and completely open.

Referring to the drawings, our improved clasp comprises two hinged sides or jawmembers 0 and C constructed from relatively flat stock and adapted to be sprung together in substantially parallel relation to form an elongated slightly curved loop. The main jaw-member C, forming the bottom of the clasp. is provided with an ear 0 at one end, see Fig. 1, curled around to embrace a pivot or hinge-pin p, and straddling the ear 0 are two similar, curled ears, 0, c, bent around from the end of the jaw-member C. The pin 70 extends through the cars 0 and 0' and is headed over at its ends to hold it in place, the ioint 71, thus eflected being similar {50 the ordinary fiat hinge for doors or the ike.

Both members 0 and C are preferably bowed upwardly in substantially concentric, arcuate planes, but could be made fiat if desired. The lower jaw-member C has its outer end curled around in a circular loop Z and the upper member C is formed with a correspondingly-bent, hooked end Z adapted to be snapped over the loop Z as shown in Fig. 2. Extending from the loop-portion Z of the member 0 toward its hinged end and formed from the same length of stock, is a bow-shaped spring-member S. The spring S overlies the main portion of the member C and is arched upwardly therefrom to form a curve of less radius. Referring to Fig. 1, the spring S is preferably of less width than the two jaw-members C, C, being cut away along its sides to lessen its stiffness and render it more resilient in action. Adjacent the hinge h the spring S is bent back in a reverse loop .9 arranged with its end adapted to bear against the under side of the member C when the latter is closed down on the member C. The loop 8 is adapted to act as a spring-element for assisting the opening of the catch when the hooked end Z of the member C is released from the looped end Z of the member C. The main, bowed portion of the spring S serves as a pressure-member or resilient clamp to bind the portions of the garments held in the clasp against its upper side or member C, to more securely hold them in place. That is to say, the spring S acts as a tension-clamp to bind against the garment straps passing through the clasp whereby the latter is held from sliding out of place thereon.

It will be noted from the dotted lines in Fig. 3 that the upper side or member C of the clasp may be swung wide open with respect to the other member C, this arrangement providing for a more convenient application of the device to the purpose intended. Heretofore in all clasps of this type it has been the practice to form the two opposed jaw-members from a single strip of metal folded on itself or bent around to adapt the sides to overlap each other. With this previous style of clasp the inherent resilience of the stock at the bent end is depended upon to spring the two jaws apart, but the jaws can only be opened toa. very limited extent. For this reason it is very inconvenient and in some cases extremely awkward to apply the clasp to the garments of the wearer, its ends catching on the material and impeding the operation while frequently tearing or otherwise injuring the lace or trimming. Furthermore, with this style of clasp the bent sprin -joint between the jawmembers soon loses its natural elasticity and after continued use becomes soft and buttle causing a rupture between the parts the purpose intended.

Various modifications might be made in the form and structure of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; therefore, without Copies of this patent may be obtained for limiting ourselves to the-exact embodiment shown, what we claim is In a lingerie-clasp for fastening the shoulder-straps of ladies garments, the combination of two opposed jaw-members hinged together at one end with the outer free end of the upper memberformed with a hook adapted to snap over a circular loop on the corresponding end of the lower member, said loop being extended inwardly toward the hinge in a bowed spring integral with the lower member and arched thereabove at its center, and with its inner end curled around in a loop adapted to slide along the lower member toward the hinge when the spring is compressed by the ma- 1 terial clasped between the jaw-members.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. f

ABRAHAM KESTENMAN. CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 1 

